Pumping mechanism for fuel feeding systems for motor vehicles



Aug. 1 6, 1932. J HElTGER 1,871,989

PUMPING MECHANISM FOR FUEL FEEDING SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OriginalFiled May 25 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l QM Z.

/ am "my Aug. 16, 1932. H, HEITGER 1,871,989

PUMPING MECHANISM FOR FUEL FEEDING SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OriginalFiled May 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I (92 o I' r Patented Aug. 16,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE' FRANK H. HEITG'ER, 0F FLINT, MICHIGAN,ASSIGNOR TO THE MARVEL CABBURETOB COMPANY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ACORPORATION OF INDIANA PUMPING MECHANISM FOR FUEL FEEDING SYSTEMS FORMOTOR VEHICLES Application filed May 25, 1925, Serial No. 32,647.Renewed May 14, 1981.

This invention relates to fuel feeding systems for internal combustionengines and more particularly to fuel feeding systems especially adaptedto be used in connection with motor vehicles, the object beingto providenovel means for supplying fuel to the charge forming device of theinternal combustion engine from a low level tank-so that an ample supplyof fuel will be delivered to the charge forming device under allconditions. v

The main object of my invention is to provide a fuel feeding system inwhich a recipton is collected and' drawn rocating pump is employedhaving means for taking care of the leakage by the reciprocating pistonand the excess amount of fuel delivered to the charge forming device.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide areciprocating pump having a chamber in communication with the pumpbarrel thereof so constructed that the leakage by the piston iscollected in the cham her and returned to the'inlet of the pump so thatthe smallamount of leakage by the pisinto the pump barrel again therebyproviding a construction wherein a reciprocating piston can be used forraising the fuel from a low level tank to the charge forming device soas to overcome the difhculties now existing in using a diaphragm pumpfor this purpose.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a fuel feedingsystem which is exceedingly simple and cheap in construction and onewhich can be readily installed on any of the well known makes of motorvehicles now in use, the piston being operated either electrically ormechanically.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a fuel feedingsystem in which the ordinary electrical circuit used in connection withthe starting and lighting system of a motor vehicle can be used foroperating the electrical pump.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing diagrammaticallythe installation of my improved construction of fuel feeding systemto aninternal combustion engine; and

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the pump.

In the drawings A indicates a portion of an internal combustion engine,B a charge forming device connected thereto, C an auxiliary reservoirfor supplying fuel to the charge forming device by gravity, D theelectrically operated pump, E the low level reservoir and F an electricbattery for supplying electrical energy to the pump.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention the pump is formed of a pumpbarrel 1 enlarged as shown to form a chamber 2 at its upper end andhaving an inlet 3 at its lower end from which extend branches 4, 5 and6. The branch 5 is provided with a spring pressed inlet check valve 7and the branch 4 is provided with a spring pressed outlet check valve 8,the valves 7 and 8 being arranged in valve casings formed in thebranches as clearly shown by the use of couplings 9 and 10 to which areconnected inlet and outlet pipes 11 and 12, inlet pipe 11 beingconnected to the low level tank E and the outlet pipe 12 extendingupwardly into the auxiliary reservoir C and terminating short of the topthereof as clearly shown.

The auxiliary reservoir C is provided with an outlet pipe 13 which isconnected to the bowl B of the charge forming device, the inlet beingcontrolled by the usual float controlled valve as clearly shown so thatas the fuel is consumed by the charge forming device, the fuel in thefloat chamber of the charge forming device will be maintained at aconstant level. Y

The branch 6 is in communication with a valve chamber 14 formed in thelower end of an overflow chamber 15 which is in communication with theannular enlargement 2 by a passage 16 and mounted within the valvechamber 14 is a spring pressed valve 17, the tension of the springholding the valve seated being slightly less than the tension of thespring used for holding the valve 7 seated. so that in the operation ofthe pump as will be hereinafter fully described, the valve 17 will openin advance of the valve 7 in order to allow fuel to be drawn from theoverflow chamber 15 into the barrel of the pump.

The overflow chamber 15 is closed by a plug 18 provided with a vent 19and having an opening through which a rod 20 extends carried by a float21 which is provided with a valve 22 for closing the outlet formed in'the bottom of the overflow chamber as clearly, shown and for the purposehereinafter fully described.

The rod carries a stop 20' which limits the up ard movement of the floatand the chamher is provided with an auxiliary inlet 23 which isconnected by pipe 24 with an outlet 25 formed in the top of theauxiliary reservoir C so that when the level of the fuel within theauxiliary reservoir C reaches the outlet, fuel will flow from theauxiliary reservoir into the overflow chamber 15 whereby the fuel in theauxiliary reservoir will be maintained at a predetermined level.

Secured to the upper end of the pump barrel is a tube 26 which is closedat its upper end by a plug 27 and said tube is surrounded by a casing 28in which is arranged a coil 29. The casing 28 is closed by a cover 30 onwhich is mounted a bracket 31 substantially inverted U-shaped andprovided with spaced ears 32 between which is pivotally mounted an arm33 carrying a contact point 34 which is adapt ed to engage a fixedcontact 35 carried by post 36, said contact 35 being electricallyconnected to one end of the coil 29 and the other end of the coil isconnected by a wire 40 to an electric battery 41. The movable contact 34is in electrical circuit with. the battery 41 by wire 42 and in thisline is arranged a switch 43 adapted to be mechanically operated so asto open and close the electric circuit for the solenoid.

Mounted within the pump barrel is a piston 44 having a reduced portion45 to prevent creeping of gasoline which has worked past the piston, theupper end of the piston being enlarged and forming the core of thesolenoid and being provided with a vertical bore 46 closed by a plug 47which is apertured and through which a rod 48 extends.

The rod 48 is provided with a head 49 at its lower end and extendsupwardly through an aperture formed in the plug 47 and carries a crosspin 50 working in a slot 51 of the arm 33 as clearly shown. The rod alsopasses through an opening formed in the inverted U-shaped bracket 31 andcarries a collar 52 and is surrounded by a coil spring 53 betweenthecollar and the bracket as clearly shown.

Disposed within the tube 26 above the uper end of the core is a coilspring 54 which is adapted to be compressed on the upward stroke of thepiston so that when the electrical circuit is broken, the spring willforce the piston downwardl so as to discharge the fuel from the lower enof the pump barrel which has been sucked therein on the upstroke of thepiston. I

The rod 48 forms an auxiliary core for the solenoid so that when theelectrical circuit is completed throu h the core of the solenoid, therod is held in its lower position so as to hold the contacts 34 and 35firmly together in order to complete the circuit so that the electricalenergy will be supplied to the coil which raises the p ston.

' In Figure 2, I have shown the electric circuit completed and thepiston has just about completed its suction stroke, and the head 49 ofthe rod 48 has been engaged by the bottom of the core formed on theupper end of the piston and 'aslight further upward movement raises therod 7 and separates the contact points so as to break the electricalcircuit.

It is, of course, understood that the upward movement of the pistoncompresses the spring 54 and by the weight of the piston and the actionof the spring fuel which has been drawn to the lower portion of the pumpbar-.

rel is discharged through the outlet thereof and delivered into theauxiliary reservoir.

On the down stroke of the piston the plug 47 engages the head 49 of therod 48 so as to pull the rod down with the piston and bring the contacts34 and 35 into engagement with one another to complete the electriccircuit and as long as the current is on, rod 7 will be energized so asto hold the contacts together.

This downward movement of the piston and rod compresses spring 53 sothat when the contacts are broken on the initial movement of the suctionstroke, the spring will have the tendency to further separate thecontacts so as to hold the contacts separated until the piston reachesthe limit of its downward movement where the circuit will be againcompleted so that thepump operates continuously, the circuit beingcompleted on its discharge stroke and broken on its suction stroke.

As the pump is operating continuously, fuel is being drawn fromthe lowlevel tank and delivered to the auxiliary reservoir from which it is fedto the carbureter by gravity,

the leakage of fuel past the piston into the mains within the receivingchamber, but just as soon as the fuel is exhausted, the pump willoperate to raise the fuel from the low level crate again, this fueltank, whereby a constant suppl of fuel is provided for the chargeforming evice under all working conditions of the motor.

It is, of course, understood that when there is only a small amount offuelwithln the receiving chamber, the float is in a lower position so asto cut off the outlet thereof and this receiving chamber does notoperate to deliver fuel to the pump until the fuel is raised beyond apredetermined level therein.

In the embodiment of the invention thus far described, it will be seenthat I have provided an electrically operated pump used in connectionwith an internal combustion engine having a charge forming devicewherein the electrical energy ordinarily used in connection with motorvehicles is employed whereby a solenoid is arranged in electricalcircuit and automatic means is provided for intermittently making andbreaking the circuit by the movement of the piston of the pump inconnection with means for collecting the leakage of fuel past the pistonand the over-supply of fuel from the auxiliary reservoir so that thisfuel is returned to the pump line, thereby overcoming any waste andovercoming all the difficulties now existing with piston operated pumpsused in connection with fuel feeding systems for motor vehicles.

In carrying out my invention I preferably employ a collecting chamberhaving a capacity equal to the capacity of the pump barrel of the pumpso that when the pump stops operating when at the end of its suctionstroke and the piston gradually returns, the fuel within the pump barrelworking past the piston will be collected in the collecting chamber sothat when the pump starts to opwill be pumped into the auxiliaryreservoir or the fuel bowl of the charge forming device, as the case maybe.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided afuel feeding system having a pump for raising fuel from a low level tankto the charge forming device so as to supply an ample amount of fuel tothe charge forming device under all engine speeds and loads, means beingprovided for collecting the fuel which leaks past the piston so that Iam able to use a piston pump in place of a diaphragm pump.

at I claim is 1. A pumping mechanism for fuel feeding system for motorvehicles comprising a pump having a pump barrel provided with a chamberat its upper end, said pump barrel being provided with a valvecontrolled inlet and outlet, a piston movably mounted within said pumpbarrel, means for raising said piston, means for returning said pistonto its original position, a collecting chamber in conimunication withthe chamber of said pump barrel for collecting the liquid passing saidaevaeee piston, a float having a valve for controlling the outletofisaid collecting chamber, and a valve for preventing fuel fromentering said collecting chamber from the discharge of said pump 2. Apumping mechanism for fuel feeding system for motor vehicles comprisinga pump having ber at its upper end, said pump barrel being provided witha valve controlled inlet and outlet, a piston movably mounted withinsaid pump barrel, means for raising said piston, means for returningsaid piston to its original position. a collecting chamber incommunication with the chamber of said pump barrel for collecting theliquid passing said piston, aispring-pressed valve for controlling theoutlet of said collecting chamber and a float controlled valve forcontrolling the outlet of said collecting chamber. 7

3-. In a pumping mechanism for fuel feeding systems for motor vehicleshaving a low level main fuel supply reservoir and a high level auxiliaryreservoir, of a pump comprising a pump barrel provided with a movablewall, means for operating said wall for raising fuel from the low levelreservoir to the high level reservoir, said pump being provided with avalve controlled inlet and a valve controlled outlet, an auxiliaryreservoir in communication with the high level reservoir, said auxiliaryreservoir being in communication with said pump barrel between thevalves controlling the inlet and the outlet, said auxiliary reservoirbeing provided with means for closing the outlet thereof after fuel hasbeen drawn therefrom by the suction stroke of the pump and for closingsaid outlet on the discharge stroke of the pump.

4. In a fuel feeding system for internal combustion engines having acharge forming device connected thereto, a pump for raising fuel from alow level tank to an elevated tank for feeding fuel to said chargeforming device, said pump being provided with inlet and outlet valves, areceptacle in communication with said pump and said elevated tank, acheck valve for cutting off communication between said receptacle andsaid pump on the pressure stroke of the pump and a float operated valvein said receptacle for cutting off communication between said elevatedtank and said pump.

5. In a fuel feeding system for internal combustion engines having acharge forming device, the combination with-a pair of tanks arranged indifferent horizontal planes, one of said tanks being ada ted to feedfuel to said charge forming device bv gravity. of a pump for raisingfuel from the low level tank to the elevated tank provided with inletand outlet valves, an auxiliary reservoir adapted to receive fuel froman overflow extending from said elevated reservoir, said auxiliaryreservoir being in communication a pump barrel provided with achamadapted to receive with said pumpin means between the inlet andoutlet valves t ereof, means for cutting off communication between saidreservoir and pump on the power stroke thereof.

6. In a fuel feeding system for internal combustion engines having acharge forming device connected thereto, an elevated tank for feedingfuel to said charge forming device, a low level tank, a pump for raisingfuel from said low level tank to said elevated tank, said pump beingprovided with inlet and outlet valves, in communication with theelevated tank and being in communication with the pump between the inletand outlet valves thereof and a float mounted in'said auxiliaryreservoir for closing the outlet thereof when the fuel drops below apredetermined level and means for closing the outlet of said auxiliaryreservoir on the pressure stroke of the pump.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRANK H. HEITGER.

from, said reservoir an auxiliary reservoir the overflow of fuel therea

